New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-12
The NEW DIOCESAN HOUSE.
MISS WOLVES GIFT TO The DIocEsE-AN OLD
FAMILY MANSION TRANSFORMER.


FAMILY MANSION TRANSFORMER.
The snowy white Tuckahoe marble that forms the
porch and lower floors OF the new Episcopal House
which is being built in Lafayette place brGD'ehs ING
whole though bank Of snow had iaen theFe
and crystaized before its pure white had been sned
by contact with the smoky atmosphere OF the CITY,
This building, which is to he the Diocesan House
NJ the Eriscopal Church in NewYorS, Is the
Gift of Miss Catharne Lorillard Wolfe. whose generous
donations to the city made known after her death
last spring She had secured the property and all the
plaus were prepared for it before her death.
The building is the old swan homestead, which was
erected fifty years ago when Lafayette place was in the
van Of the uptown changes in the city. Union Square
was then cluster of fine old residences, northern
suburb OF tie city; Broadway block distant was q
broan country drive, and Fifth-aye. had only begun
TO dawn New.Yorkers For many years hehliil'n L.
Swan made the mansion the home or his Iahhy' INC
Middle Dutch Church that was torn down last spi'nS
was in its prime. the Astors were his neighDor' WASH
ipgton Irving had home ia the street ana was oiien
aeon conversing with his friends at the entrances OF inc
Colonnade which ad'ons the Swan residence Ihe Ola
building was Of brick square and roomy, Win pro"u
stoiryays and massive mahogany stair ratings ana
doors occupied plot OF fortyve feet front anu 100
feet deep more than two of the city lots OF to-day
IL fitting up the building for its new purpose inc pcuF
of the Old house been retained but the Old front mas
been entirely torn away In place of the plain ola hrlck
front facade of Venetian Gothic has been maze OF INC
lower floors and those above are OF yellow OrcK ana
buff terra Gotta. marble porch rises from the street
10 the third for the main entrance and AFFORDS pay
windows for the FIRST and second stories on the second
floor II is supplemented b. wide balcony In general
treatment tic new work Is not unlike In character me
Grace Church House In Fonrth-aNc when Miss hohc
always admired. \ passageway runs from inc street
along the south side Of the building giving better ght
10 the structure. In the rear line old vine tnat was
planted by Mr.. swan, when the house was puilI, was
Torn away aud the building was extended over inc
garden plot This gives Of Office rooms on the hist
1oor ana the second will be used rs library WIN "a
high, open tinlbercG roof go. IL, . tor.
me changes In the Old building will cost about
$4,000 Tie hOuss viii be ready for occupation III
another month when the churches are open ana people
come in from the country The architects having chh
of the wor. are Messrs Renwick. AspinNal husstll
AS much as possible OF the interior OF the ola buihg
has been retained The staircase remains WIN Us cNeu
rails and the polished old mahogany doors Al thc new
parts OF the building finished IN asst hut III contrast
10 the broad mahogany stairway IN front modern iron
stairway has built III the rear shop Ioer VIZ
have an Office here and set of chambers VIII De Pre-
pared for him when he 20 remain mere a Eirto
safe IL built into the walls ana the maps ana rccOus
OF INC Diocese NcwN YORK will he safely kept III H. IN
the uuper stories number of sleeping rooms are 10 po
hti ed for students visitors OF the Bishop The ilnr
and his family will in the basement anu ia
tie rear OF the floor will he the boilers ana heahs
apparatus for the bull ding All the plans tor lhe diicc
ton of the Diocese will he conducted here ana the Offices
liz the building will he occupied by those employ CT III
carving the work OF the Church.